Contents

Geography

Location of Pantelleria

The island of Pantelleria is constructed above a drowned
continental rift in the Strait of Sicily and has been the
locus of intensive volcano-tectonic activity. Two large Pleistocene calderas
dominate the island, which contains numerous post-caldera lava domes and cinder cones and is the type locality for
peralkaline rhyolitic
rocks, pantellerites. The 15-km-long island is
the emergent summit of a largely submarine edifice. The 6-km-wide
Cinque Denti caldera, the
youngest of the two calderas, formed about 45,000 years ago and
contains the two post-caldera shield volcanoes of Monte Grande and
Monte Gibele.[1]
Holocene eruptions have constructed pumice cones, lava domes, and short,
blocky lava flows.[2] Many Holocene vents are located on
three sides of the uplifted Montagna Grande block on the SE side of
the island. A submarine eruption in 1891 from a vent off the NW
coast is the only confirmed historical activity.[3]

The island is fertile, but lacks fresh water. The principal town
(pop. about 3,000) is on the north-west, upon the only harbour
(only fit for small steamers), which is fortified. There was also a
penal colony here. The island can be reached by ferries from Trapani, and lies close to the
main route from east to west through the Mediterranean.

History

Archaeological evidence has unearthed dwellings and artifacts
dated at 35,000 years ago.

The original population of Pantelleria did not come from Sicily,
and was of Iberian or
Ibero-Ligurian stock. After
a considerable interval, during which the island probably remained
uninhabited, the Carthaginians took possession of it (no doubt
owing to its importance as a station on the way to Sicily) probably
about the beginning of the 7th century BC, occupying as their acropolis the twin hill of
San Marco and Santa Teresa, 2 km (1 mi) south of the town
of Pantelleria. The town possesses considerable remains of walls
made of rectangular blocks of masonry, and also of a number of
cisterns. Punic tombs have also been discovered, and
the votive terra-cottas of a small sanctuary of the Punic period
were found near the north coast. The name "Pantelleria" means
"Daughter of the Wind", which represents the strong winds that
arise off the north coast of Africa.

The Romans
occupied the island as the Fasti Triumphales
record in 255 BC, lost it again the next year, and recovered it in
217 BC. Under the Empire it served as a place of banishment
for prominent persons and members of the imperial family. The town
enjoyed municipal rights.

In 700 the Christian population was annihilated by the Arabs, from
whom the island was taken in 1123 by Roger of Sicily. In
1311 an Aragonese fleet, under the command of
Lluís
de Requesens, won a considerable victory here, and his family
became princes of Pantelleria until 1553, when the town was sacked
by the Turks.

Its capture was regarded as crucial to the Allied success in
invading Sicily in 1943
because it allowed planes to be based in range of the larger
island. Pantelleria was heavily bombarded in the days before the
scheduled invasion by bombers and warships, and the garrison
finally surrendered as the landing troops were approaching. The
capture of Pantelleria was called Operation Corkscrew and it played a
part as a vital base for Allied aircraft during Operation Husky. The United States Army Air
Forces planned to capture the island as a test case for air
power, so they intended to bombard it into submission entirely
from the air.

One of the "Sesi" on Pantelleria.

Main
sights

A Neolithic village was situated on the west coast, 3 km
south-east of the harbour, with a rampart of small blocks of obsidian, about 7.5 m
high, 10 m wide at the base, and 5 m at the top, upon the
undefended eastern side: within it remains of huts were found, with
pottery, tools of obsidian, and other artifacts. The objects
discovered are in the museum at Syracuse.

To the south-east, in the district known as the Cunelie, are a
large number of tombs, known as sesi, similar in character
to the nuraghe of Sardinia, though of smaller
size, consisting of round or elliptical towers with sepulchral
chambers in them, built of rough blocks of lava. Fifty-seven of them can still be traced. The
largest is an ellipse of about 18 by 20 m, but most of the
sesi have a diameter of only 6 to 7.5 m. The identical
character of the pottery found in the sesi with that found in the
prehistoric village proves that the former are the tombs of the
inhabitants of the latter.

Wine

Pantelleria is noted for its sweet wines, Moscato di Pantelleria
and Moscato Passito di Pantelleria, both made from the local Zibibbo
grape.

From Wikitravel

Contents

Pantelleria is an island lying between Sicily, Italy
and Tunisia. Although
Italian it is proud of its Arab influence. It has a very rich
history and the main engineers of the islands gardens and
architecture was the Arabic culture. However mixed the culture is,
it is in this time a very Sicilian culture in every way. there is a
great emphasis on the art of hospitality. It is becoming quite a
chic destination. It is striking and hilly, with the countryside
dotted with white Dammuso houses. There are no beaches -
people swim off the black rocks.

The main centre is Pantelleria Town, along with
the much smaller Scauri, Tracino & Kamma and
Rekale.

The Piano Ghirlandia, Pantelleria

Get in

By boat

Daily overnight ferries run from Trapani in Sicily, running more frequently
alongside hydrofoils in Summer. See SIREMAR and Ustica Lines.

By plane

Direct Flights from Rome and Milan. A new
agreement with the hotels on Pantelleria has created a long period
of direct flights to Pantelleria from Rome and Milan. These flights
are on big jets (300 seats or more), only on weekends, 3 or 4 times
each weekend day. Usually AllItalia. Tel 0923 913 283 seems to be
the only resource for booking these flights. April to October. This
is very new.

Get around

By Bus

By Moped

An excellent way to see the island is to hire a moped for a few
days - it is small enough to do a circuit in 4 hours or so. Beware
- there are only two petrol station on the island - both in
Pantelleria Town.

The Specchio di Venere - a lake inside the crater of a
former volcano.

The Sesi - black Neolithic funeral mounds.

The pretty seaside hamlet of Gadir and its thermal
pools.

The pretty vineyards in the Piano Ghiraldia at the far
(east) end of the island.

Do

Boat Tours. For a moderate fee, usually around
Euro 35 per person, you can take a slow boat tour around the
island. This can be very entertaining depending on who comes along.
Usually there is abundant food and wine served on board, swimming
stops and a photographic adventure of a very rich volcanic island.
From the sea you can see the homes of Armani and many of Italy's
most famous people.

Trekking. There are many maintained trails into
the complex geology of Pantelleria. Each little region is very
different and unique from all the others. For a small island, there
is tremendous diversity to Pantelleria.

Thermal Pools and the Sauna Cave. There are
many thermal pools on Pantelleria. One of the best places is a
large natural sauna cave in the mountains near the region called
Monestero. One of the most beautiful vistas on the island can be
seen from here. There is also Santaria, a hot thermal pool inside a
cave. This is according to legend the love nest of Calypso and
Ulysses. All the thermal pools are free and maintained by the
community members.

Buy

Art: There are two famous sculptors on the
island. One is a local man, a Pantesce Native
(Kaku). He has a shop near the old castle in the
main village, Pantelleria. The other is a Native American who lives
in Rekhale (Turtle Heart).

Ceramics of DiSimone. DiSimone is a very famous
ceramics artist who atarted his career on Pantelleria. Now his work
is sold in shops in many countries. He still has his "home" gallery
on Pantelleria. Great objects for the household and fancy objects
of ceramic art. Very colourful and vivid scenes of the traditional
life of Pantelleria.

Il Cappero Via Roma. Excellent medium-priced
food, very popular with the locals.

Zabib Porto di Scauri (+39) 0923916617 - Good
restaurant, open only for dinner.

Drink

CiCCi's Bar. A favorite place in Pantelleria
village, right near the central square. Generous snacks. Great
atmosphere. Cicci is a force on Pantelleria and this bar has great
ambience and personality. A must visit bar and cafe in the true
Sicilian style.

Passito. You must drink the famous wine of
Pantelleria, called Passito. Pantelleria is an island of farmers,
not fishermen. The ancient wine is unique in all the world and the
best Passito is generally only available locally. If you
make friends with local people you can have the adventure of
tasting home made Passito. Passito is a rich meditation wine,
sometimes called a dessert wine. Passito and Capers are the
island's two best known products.

This is a usable article. It has
information for getting in as well as some complete entries for
restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this
article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

From LoveToKnow 1911

PANTELLERIA, or Pantalaria (ancient Cossyra
1), an island in the Mediterranean, 62 m. S. by W. of the
south-western extremity of Sicily, and 44 m. E. of the African coast,
belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani. Pop. (Igor), 8683. It is entirely of
volcanic origin, and about 45 sq. m. in area; the highest point, an
extinct crater, is 2743 ft.
above sea-level. Hot mineral springs and ebullitions of steam still testify to the presence
of volcanic activity. The island is fertile, but lacks fresh water.
The principal town (pop. about 3000) is on the north-west, upon the
only harbour (only fit for small steamers), which is fortified.
There is also a penal colony
here. The island can be reached by steamer from Trapani, and lies
close to the main route from east to west through the
Mediterranean. In 1905 about 300,000 1 The name is Semitic, but its
meaning is uncertain.

gallons of wine (mostly sweet
wine), and 'goo tons of dried raisins, to the value of £34,720,
were exported.

On the west coast, 2 m. south-east of the harbour, a neolithic village was
situated, with a rampart of small blocks of obsidian, about 25 ft. high, 33 ft. wide at
the base, and 16 at the top, upon the undefended eastern side:
within it remains of huts were found, with pottery, tools of
obsidian, &c. The objects discovered are in the museum at Syracuse. To the south-east,
in the district known as the Cunelie, are a large number of tombs,
known as sesi, similar in character to the
nuraghi of Sardinia, though of smaller size, consisting
of round or elliptical towers with sepulchral chambers in them,
built of rough blocks of lava.
Fifty-seven of them can still be traced. The largest is an ellipse of about 60 by 66 ft.,
but most of the sesi have a diameter of 20-25 ft. only. The
identical character of the pottery found in the sesi with
that found in the prehistoric village proves that the former are
the tombs of the inhabitants of the latter. This population came
from Africa, not from Sicily,
and was of Iberian or Ibero-Ligurian stock. After a considerable
interval, during which the island probably remained uninhabited,
the Carthaginians took possession of it (no doubt owing to its
importance as a station on the way to Sicily) probably about the
beginning of the 7th century B.C., occupying as their acropolis the twin hill of
San Marco and Sta Teresa, 1 m. south of the town of Pantelleria,
where there are considerable remains of walls in rectangular blocks
of masonry, and also of a
number of cisterns. Punic tombs have also been discovered, and the
votive terra-cottas of a small sanctuary of the Punic period were found near
the north coast.

The Romans occupied the
island as the Fasti Triumphales
record in 255 B.C., lost it again the next year, and recovered it
in 217 B.C. Under the Empire it served as a place
of banishment for prominent persons and members of the imperial
family. The town enjoyed municipal rights. In 700 the Christian
population was annihilated by the Arabs, from whom the island was taken in 1123 by
Roger of Sicily. In 1311 a
Spanish fleet, under the command of Requesens, won a considerable
victory here, and his family became princes of Pantelleria until
1553, when the town was sacked by the Turks.